ST. PATRICK'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY was founded by a small group of Irish diocesan priests under the leadership of Father Pat Whitney in 1932.
PRESENT MEMBERSHIP There are 332 priests and 63 seminarians. The number of seminarians is increasing by 10 to 15 annually most of whom come from African countries.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE of the Society is to spread the word of God and to build Christian communities.
MISSION CIRCLE From its beginning St. Patrick's Missionary Society has depended on the faithful Catholic people of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, U.S.A. Two thirds of this generous support comes from Ireland mainly through the MISSION CIRCLE. In this way, our supporters become PARTNERS IN MISSIONS with the missionary priests by:
1. praying daily and patiently offering pains and disappointments for the success of missionaries;
2. making a financial contribution.
ST. PATRICK'S MISSIONARIES:
1. offer three Masses daily for all Mission Circle members;
2. offer one Mass every day in November for all deceased members;
3. pray daily in the Divine Office for all benefactors.
SOCIETY NEEDS increase every year.
Our seminarians in Africa must be supported.
The priests on the missions need support so that they can carry out their pastoral duties and contribute to human development (feed the hungry, care for the sick, the homeless, the marginalised). They
must work for justice and uphold the dignity and rights of every person. Most of all they must train lay pastoral workers who will teach and minister to their own people. This is an enormous task. There are more people than ever before who have not heard the Christian message. There is greater poverty and violence in most Third World countries. Christian people cannot stand idly by. As Ireland becomes more affluent its Christian responsibility to suffering humanity becomes greater and more urgent.
We cannot solve all the world's problems but we can lighten the burden of some.
Every donation and every prayer offered is a contribution to building up and making the world a better and happier place for all God's children.
ST. PATRICK'S MISSIONARIES
Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow
Tel: 059-6473600
Fax: 059-6473622
Africa: St. Patrick's Missions was launched in 1930 by Fr. Patrick Whitney who founded St. Patrick's Missionary Society two years later
• Nigeria was the first mission area for the Kiltegan Fathers and we still work there. We also work in Cameroon, Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as in Brazil and Grenada.
• Africa Magazine helps us share the Good News and gathers vital support for our work around the world.
• You can play a vital role by subscribing to our magazine.
In 1930, Fr. Patrick Whitney knew he needed a magazine to keep people informed about their missionaries and what they were doing in Africa.
Today, Africa: St. Patrick's Missions keeps you in touch with missionaries not only in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, but in North America and Europe, where the Kiltegan Fathers work.
It comments on topics of Christian interest, and also features stories, competitions and photographs for young people.
ST. PATRICK'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
Kiltegan,
Co. Wicklow.
Tel.: 059-6473600
Fax: 059-6473622
E-mail: spsoff@iol.ie
www.spms.org
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